Electro-Optical Device, Electronic Apparatus, Protective Member, and Method of Manufacturing Protective Member

1. An electro-optical device comprising: an electro-optical panel having a first side and a second side, the second side being formed on an opposite side of the electro-optical panel than the first side; a protective member having a light-transmitting substrate mounted on the electro-optical panel adjacent to the first side; a backlight disposed adjacent to the second side of the electro-optical panel; and a holding member including a casing housing the electro-optical panel and the backlight, wherein: the protective member has: a thick portion where a thickness of the light-transmitting substrate is large; a thin portion where the thickness of the light-transmitting substrate is small, the thin portion extending around an outer circumference of the light-transmitting substrate; and a step portion extending a distance (D) between a top surface of the thick portion and a top surface of the thin portion of the light-transmitting substrate, wherein the top surface of the thick portion is positioned farther away from the backlight than the top surface of the thin portion, wherein the holding member has a fitting portion nested in the step portion of the protective member which extends the distance (D) and is positioned above the top surface of the thin portion of the light-transmitting substrate such that the thin portion of the light-transmitting substrate is positioned between the fitting portion and the backlight and a top surface of the fitting portion is flush with the top surface of the thick portion of the light-transmitting substrate, and wherein the light-transmitting substrate and the electro-optical panel are bonded to each other with an adhesive layer.

2. The electro-optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer further comprises a hardening resin.

3. The electro-optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the thin portion of the light-transmitting substrate is interposed between the electro-optical panel and the fitting portion of the holding member, the fitting portion of the holding member is nested within the step portion of the light-transmitting substrate.

4. The electro-optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the casing includes an opening corresponding to a display region of the electro-optical panel, ends of the opening of the holding member form the fitting portion, the thick portion of the light-transmitting substrate of the protective member is fitted into the opening of the holding member, and the step portion of the protective member engage the fitting portion of the holding member.

5. The electro-optical device according to claim 1 , wherein a light-shielding member is disposed such that the fitting portion of the holding member is in a region where the light shielding member locates.

6. A protective member to be applied to the electro-optical device of claim 1 , comprising: the protective member comprising: a light-transmitting substrate having an inner area and an outer circumference; and a flange provided along the outer circumference of the light-transmitting substrate, the flange defining a step portion along the outer circumference.

7. The protective member according to claim 6 , further comprising: light-shielding member disposed on the light-transmitting substrate that shield a predetermined region of the electro-optical panel.

8. The protective member according to claim 7 , wherein the light-shielding members are located in a region that covers at least the step portion in plan view.

9. The electro-optical device according to claim 1 , further comprising a gap disposed between the backlight and the second side of the electro-optical panel.

10. An electro-optical device comprising: an electro-optical panel having a first side and a second side, the second side being formed on an opposite side of the electro-optical panel than the first side; a backlight disposed adjacent to the second side of the electro-optical panel; a light-transmitting protective member bonded to the first side of the electro optical panel, the protective member having a circumferential flange defining a step portion along a circumference of the protective member and extending a distance (D) between an upper top surface of the first side and a lower top surface of the first side, wherein the upper top surface is positioned farther away from the backlight than the lower top surface; and a holding member including a casing having a fitting portion nested within the step portion of the protective member which extends the distance (D) and is positioned above the lower top surface of the first side such that a top surface of the fitting portion is flush with the upper top surface of the first side, the electro-optical panel and backlight disposed within the casing.

11. The electro-optical device according to claim 10 , wherein the circumferential flange of the protective member is interposed between the electro-optical panel and the fitting portion of the holding member.

12. The electro-optical device according to claim 10 , further comprising a gap disposed between the backlight and the second side of the electro-optical panel.